Almost two weeks after France saw its first legal gay marriage, an anti-gay group staged a protest against homosexuality during the French Open final match between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer.
French police told Reuters on Sunday that seven people were detained at Roland Garros in Paris, while five more were questioned, then released.
"Twelve people have tried to disrupt the match," a police source who preferred to remain anonymous told Reuters. "They have been caught by the security staff of the tournament and been handed over to the police. They are being questioned."
An anti-gay group called "Hommen," claimed responsibility for the protests via their Facebook and Tumblr. They are self-named, "standard-bearers of the resistance against gay marriage."
Two men wearing no shirts suddenly burst from the front row during the sixth game of the second set. From behind the tennis players' benches on court Philippe Chatrier, one protester who wore a white mask on his face set off a flare and stormed the court, headed straight for Nadal.
A security guard nabbed him before he could make it to the tennis player-the member of staff brought him down to the hard court ground, then got a hold of his partner in crime, dragging them from the court.
Earlier that same day, another four protesters got the boot from the playing grounds, while another six were taken from the Court Suzanne Lenglen nearby. All 10 people held banners that read, "Hollande Resign!" scoffing at the French president's decision to pass a bill legalizing gay marriage. They accused Francois Hollande of infringing upon children's rights.
"This kind of thing is regrettable but it has been taken care of by our security staff," tournament director Gilbert Ysern told Reuters.
Toni Nadal-Rafael's coach and uncle-said on Sunday that he was not fazed by the display, but player Ferrer chuckled that his opponent was a little shaken up.
"It's funny, Rafa was scared a little bit," Ferrer said, grinning. "It's strange but I did not lose my focus."
